What percentage of sleep time do newborns spend in the REM phase?

Newborns typically spend about 50 percent of their sleep time in the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) phase. This is a significantly higher proportion compared to adults, who generally spend around 20 to 25 percent of their sleep in REM. The REM phase is crucial for brain development and is associated with dreaming and various biological processes that contribute to cognitive development. During this stage of sleep, important neural connections are formed, which are essential for learning and memory.

In the case of newborns, their extensive time spent in REM sleep reflects their intense developmental needs, as they are rapidly acquiring skills and processing vast amounts of new information during their early life stages. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the importance of REM sleep in the early stages of human development.